Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Monday May 26th With Former Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski Serving As Grand Marshal

Former Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski Will Serve as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Bayonne Memorial Day Parade

Editor’s note: We previously covered the installation of a new bell tower at Fitzpatrick Park in Bayonne. In addition, a September 11th memorial service and a display were in Bayonne last year. Casa Belvedere honored veterans at their Memorial Day celebration. 

The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Committee has named former Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Memorial Day Parade. He is a life-long resident of Bayonne, is married to the former Regina J. Razin, and is blessed with three sons and seven grandchildren.

Rutkowski graduated from our Lady of Mount Carmel Grammar School and St. Peter’s Prep where he was a four-year honor student. Then he received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Peter’s College where he was on the Dean’s List and a member of the Spur Honor Society. He further received a Master’s of Science Degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology. He then completed one full year at Seton Hall Law School. While at St. Peter’s Prep, he was enrolled in the R.O.T.C. Program.

After his junior year, he attended summer camp at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where he received the Outstanding Cadet Medal Award.

During his senior year, he was named Cadet Battalion Commander in charge of 400 fellow student cadets, where he attained the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. He also received the Distinguished Military Student Award and the Reserved Officers Association Medal for the highest marks in the R.O.T.C.

Upon graduation, Rutkowski applied for and received a regular Army commission instead of a reserved commission. He was then assigned to the Basic Infantry Officers Course where he graduated 7th out of 200 officers including 100 West Point Graduates from the class of 1955.

His next assignment was at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, where he received the Commendation Medal for being an outstanding Company Commander. Rutkowski was then assigned to Field Training Team Two at Tabriz, Iran, where he was to help train the Iranian soldiers. He shook hands with the Shah of Iran. Rutkowski was at the Russian border during the Iraqi crisis in 1958.

Upon completion of his Army service, Rutkowski joined the family business: the Hi-Hat Caterers. He became active in various veterans posts, including:
* American Polish Vets
* Catholic War Veterans Post 1612
* Joyce-Herbert VFW Post 226
* Cpt P.J.E. Hogan Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5

Rutkowski along with many other veterans speaks at the Historical Joyce-Herbert V.F.W. Post 226 Veterans Museum, educating our youth and community about our military history.

Among many worthy awards, commendations, and accolades, Rutkowski was honored by:
* The Four Chaplains Award
* The Field of Heroes Award
* The Joyce-Herbert VFW Post 226 Centennial Honoree Award
* Royal Hero Award from the Dr. Walter J. Robinson Community School

Rutkowski was Councilman-At-Large from 1978 to 1986, and Mayor of the City of Bayonne from 1990 to 1994.

As a dedicated Mayor, Rutkowski personally returned all phone calls that came into the Mayor’s Office. There was a surplus of 3.8 million dollars in the City’s Budget when Rutkowski left office.

The environmental park in the northwestern part of Bayonne was named after him, the Richard A. Rutkowski Park.

Banner Image: Parade. Image Credit – Beth Macdonald